It hasn’t taken long for Jon Rahm to establish himself inside the circle of the game’s top players, so if there was an element of surprise to his victory in the Bahamas, it may have been how clearly he separated himself on Sunday.

Entering the final round tied with Henrik Stenson and Tony Finau for the lead, Rahm won in emphatic fashion. While Stenson’s normally rock-solid ball-striking betrayed him and Finau couldn’t convert an opportunity into a victory, Rahm was virtually flawless.

Leading Finau by two strokes, Rahm locked down the tournament at the 291-yard, par-4 14th hole. Rahm’s tee shot reached the green before sliding off to the right side and down the slope. A good pitch shot set up a short birdie while Finau made double bogey after putting his tee shot in trouble to the left of the green.

“I can say that ball-striking wise it’s pretty much where I want to be,” Rahm said. “It was about as perfect as it could be out there.

“I played so solidly out there. If you can capitalize on the five par-5s and the two driveable par-4s out there, you’re going to have a good chance.”

The victory in the 18-player event capped a season that cemented Rahm’s place among the elite. With his victory in the CareerBuilder Challenge in January, the Open de España in April and his singles victory against Tiger Woods in the Ryder Cup, Rahm will go into his brief offseason with a collection of success to enjoy.

“That Sunday with Tiger is still the most emotional, most important moment of my career,” Rahm said. “I pretty much started crying when I was shaking his hand because that meant so much to me.”

Finau (closing 69) finished second, while Justin Rose (65) finished third and was projected to narrowly miss regaining third and was projected to narrowly miss regaining the No.1 spot in the world ranking, remaining second behind Brooks Koepka. Stenson (71) was fourth.

“Watts” in Jon Rahm’s Bag

Driver: TaylorMade M2 (9.5 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Tour Green 75TX

3-wood: TaylorMade M3 (16 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Tour Green 75TX

Driving iron: TaylorMade RSi TP UDI (23 degrees)
Shaft: Project X Rifle 6.5

Irons: TaylorMade P-750 (4-PW)
Shaft: Project X Rifle 6.5

Wedges: TaylorMade Milled Grind (51, 55), TaylorMade Hi-Toe (60)
Shaft: Project X Rifle 6.5

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour Red
Grip: SuperStroke Ultra Slim 1.0 P

Ball: TaylorMade TP5X (#10)

Grips: Golf Pride MCC Red/Black Midsize (1 wrap of tape)

Republished with permission from Global Golf Post